Shock absorbing mechanism for railway draft riggings



1953 v. s. DANIELSON ET AL SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY DRAFT RIGGINGS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 19, 1952 Oct. 27, 1953 v. s. DANIELSON ET AL 2,656,936

SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY DRAFT RIGGINGS Filed July 19, 1952 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Invenlors; Vernon Slkznielson, Ridhard (Z. IHLZZou.

Patented Oct. 27, 1953 SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY DRAFT RIGGINGS Vernon S. Danielson, Chicago, and Richard G. Tillou, Lombard, Ill., assignors to W. H. Miner, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application July 19, 1952, Serial No. 299,894

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in shock absorbing mechanisms for railway draft riggings.

One object of the invention is to provide a shock absorbing mechanism comprising a friction casing, a friction clutch at the front end of the casing having sliding frictional engagement with the interior walls of the casing, springs within the casing yieldingly opposing inward movement of the clutch, a rear follower member at the rear end of the casing, movable lengthwise with respect to the casing, and having forwardly projecting arms cooperating with lugs on the casing for limiting rearward movement of the follower member with respect to the casing, a follower plate. housed within the rear follower member and bearing on the rear end of the easing which is open to allow the spring to bear on the follower plate, and a rubber cushioning element interposed between the follower plate and the rear follower member to cushion relative movements of the casing and follower member, wherein means is provided for holding the casing against rotation with respect to the rear follower member to prevent accidental disengagement of the lugs of said rear follower member from the casing.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a mechanism as set forth in the preceding paragraph, wherein the follower plate fits the interior contour of the rear follower member in such a manner as to lock the follower plate against rotation with respect to the rear follower member, and the casing has lugs thereon engaged in slots or seats of the follower plate, thus providing means for holding the casing against rotation with respect to the rear follower member.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view of our improved shock absorbing mechanism, illustrating the same enclosed within the usual yoke and in position between the draft lugs of a railway draft rigging, the location of the draft sills being diagrammatically indicated by straight lines.

Figure 2 is a front elevational View of the shock absorbing mechanism shown in Figure 1.

Figures 3 and 4 are transverse, vertical sectional views, corresponding respectively to the lines 33 and 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the rear follower member of the shock absorbing mechanism shown in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a broken sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line l--'l of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a front elevational view of the follower plate of our improved shock absorbing mechanism.

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Fig-ure 10 is a vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line l0-lll of Figure 8.

Our improved shock absorbing mechanism comprises broadly a friction casing A, a rear follower member B, a set of three friction shoes CC-C slidable in the casing, a wedge block D in wedging engagement with the shoes, inner and outer coil springs E and F within the casing, an auxiliary follower plate G bearing on the rear end of the casing, a rubber cushioning element H interposed and reacting between the auxiliary follower plate G and the rear follower member B.

The friction casing A is in the form of a hollow tubular member open at its front and rear ends. The front end portion of the casing is of hexagonal transverse cross section and provides the friction shell portion of the casing, which shell portion is indicated by ID. The portion of the casing A rearwardly of the friction shell portion I0 is of cylindrical cross section and provides a spring cage member I I. At opposite sides of the open rear end thereof, the casing A is provided with relatively heavy, lateral projecting retaining lugs E2l2 engageable with the follower plate to lock the casing and said plate against relative rotation. In addition, the lugs l2l2 form stops for the rear follower member B, as hereinbefore described. These locking lugs terminate short of the rear end of the casing A, as shown in Figure 1, to relieve the lugs from strain during compression of the mechanism as the pressure is transmitted from the casing A to the auxiliary follower plate G. The hexagonal friction shell portion ll] of the casing A presents three interior, rearwardly converging friction surfaces I3l3|3, which are of V-shaped, transverse cross section. At the outer end, the friction shell portion [0 of the casing A is provided with three inturned stop lugs 14-44-14, which are alternated with the friction surfaces of said shell portion.

The rear follower member B comprises a rela extending flanges I 18-! I8 and guide projectionsl9l 9 and [9-4 9, as shown most clearly in Figure 5, thus leaving the follower. member. open:v

at the top and bottom sides thereof between these flanges. As further shown in Figure 5, the projections 19-49 on each side of the follower B extend beyond theends of the curved inturned flanges !8'I8-.

The friction shoes C are three in number and are telescoped within the casing A. Each shoe C is provided with a longitudinally extending V-shaped friction surface 20 on its outer side'in sliding engagement with the corresponding fricti'on" surface 13 f the casing A. On its inner side, each shoe has a V-shaped wedge face 21.

The wedge block D has three v-shaped wedge faces 22-22 22 at its inner end, arranged symmetrically about the central longitudinal axis of the-casing-A and engagingrespectively the wedge faces 2l-2'l--2l of thethree shoes C',-CC. The wedge block D further has three radially outwardly extending stop lugs 23-43-23 which extend between a-djacent shoes, and are engaged in back'of the stop-lugs l lM-i l of the casing A- to' lifn'it outwardmovement of the wedge block D and thus hold the parts ofthe friction shock absorbing mechanism assembled.

The springs E" and F are disposed within the casing- A- ans together form the main spring resistance of the mechanism. Each of these springs is in the form of a helical 'coil, having its opposite ends bearing on the inner ends of the shoes C" and the auxiliary follower plate G, respectively.

The auxiliary follower plate Gris in the form of an: oblong member of the outline shown in Figure 8. As shownin Figure 8, the-top and bottom edgeportions of the auxiliary follower plate G are-rounded or curved upwardly and downwardly at the mid portion of said plate, as indicated at 2{4" 2'"4=, and the plate presents wing portions 2 25- at opposite sides thereof beyond said curved portions 2424 which have outer curved or rounded edges which are engaged with concave faces on guide ribs 26-26 on the inne r sides of the side walls or arms 16516 of the follower member B. The topand bottom ends of the wing portions 2525- present horizontal edges, the wings being of such a height that they slidin'gly fit between the top and bottom guide projections: l 9-l 9' and i-3-I9 ofthe follower member B to properly guide the auxiliary follower plate G within the rear follower member B. As willbe-evident, the follower plate G is thus of generally rectangular shape, provided with curved side edges. The main body portion of the follower plate G is depressed at its forward side to provide a centralseat 21 for the rear ends of the springs E and F. I v

At opposite sides, at the front thereof, the follower plate G is. provided with locking seats 28'28, which are located on the wing portions The side walls or arms l6- |8 of the- 2525, each seat being formed by a pair of vertically spaced, horizontally extending ribs 29-29 projecting from said wings. Extending upwardly and downwardly from each pair of said ribs, respectively, are curved or arc-shaped ribs 3ll3'0, which: are theasame heightt as the ribs 2929 and formsupporting guides for" the lugs i2;l2 of the casing A during the operation of assembling the parts of the mechanism.

lihe-rubber; cushioning element H, which is interposed: between the auxiliary follower plate G and the rear follower member B, bears at its front rearends, respectively, on the auxiliary follower jplate G and the wall l5 of the follower me her B. This cushioning element, as illustrated inthadrawings, comprises a plurality of units. arranged in series, each unit being composed or a rubber mat 3.! embraced by front and rear spacing plates 32 32. The plates 32 3 2 of the units and the cooperating mats 3-1; prefe ably have interengagin'g centering projections and seats, the seats of the front unit of the cushibning element being' engaged by centering projecti'ons 33-33 with which the auxiliary follower member G is provided, and the projections of the rear unit beingengaged in seats 34 provided in the wall P5 of the rear follower member; B; In assembling themechanism, therearfollower member Bis placed on a suitablehorizontal s-iip port with their-ear side thereof, that is; the'wall i5 resting flatly on said support that the side walls or arms l t-IE thereofariii-upstanding position. Preferably, the entire assembling operation is performed while the rear follower mom} her B is in this upstanding position. The cushioning element i's first placed within the foi lower member B, between the arms- !=6'-l 6, The auxiliary follower plate G is then placed within the follower member B by entering the same-be,- tween the arms 15- -16 turned in position so" that the wing portions 252'5-thereofare aligned with the penings between the flanges ilj3;l I-8 and |'i8-l-'l 8 at oppositesides of; the rear follower member 8'. After the auxiliaryfollower plate G has been brought to a position in back of the flanges l 8-l 8 of the rear follower member'B', itis rotated? through- 96 degrees, thereby bringing it into the position shown in Figures I and 3. is then seated on the cushioning" element l he casing A, in upright position, with the outer coil spring F arrangeditherein; is then placedon top of the auxiliary follower plate-G; In placing the ing- A on theauxiliaryfollowerplate G, the casin is'turned so thatthe lugs l 2 l 2 thereof willlre f ister with the openings between the" opposed flanges l 9'-l9 ofthe follower m'ernberB, whereby these lugs will pass freely between the flanges 118 -1413 and win be positioned t engage in back ofthe flanges illlil w h en the casing, A is rotated through an arc of. degrees. aboutlits longitur, dirial aids. Aft'enthe ca'sing has. been placed in this. position. ,the rubber cushioning, element H is compressedby depressing the auxiliary fol lower plate G bya suitable-tool, such as, a plunger or bar-extending into: the casing. A. The: auxil iary follower plate Withtthe' casing A resting thereon, is depressed. until. the lugs I 2: i2; of. the casing pass below the level of the flanges: I 8 l-8 of the rear follower member B The auxiliary follower plate G is then depressed a little further so that the lugs l-2''l 2 of the casing A may ride on the ribs 3l1"39' of thefauxilfiary follower plate when thecasing A is rotated; With the parts thus positioned, the casing A is rotated through an arc of 90 degrees, bringing the lugs |2--l2 in back of the flanges |8--I8 and seating said lugs in the seats 2828 of the auxiliary follower plate G to lock the casing and follower plate against relative rotation. The pressure is then withdrawn from the auxiliary follower plate G, permitting the rubber cushioning element H to expand, thereby bringing the lugs |2l2 into engagement with the flanges |8-|8 of the rear follower B. After the follower member B has thus been connected to the casing A, the inner coil spring E, shoes C-CC, and the wedge block D are applied to the casing A by entering all of these parts through the open front end of the casing, the lugs 23-23-43 of the wedge block D being engaged in back of the lugs l4-|4--l4 of the casing while the shoes are held in inwardly displaced position by any suitable tool engaged with said shoes to place the springs E and F under compression. As hereinbefore brought out, the outer coil spring F is assembled with the casing A before connecting the follower member B to said casing. In placing the spring F within the casing, the former is entered through the open unobstructed rear end of the latter, thereby permitting a maximum diameter coil spring being used, which would not be possible if this spring had to be passed through the front end of the casing, the opening of which is restricted in size due to the inwardly projecting retaining lugs l4|4-I4 for the wedge being located there.

The operation of our improved shock absorbing mechanism is as follows: During relative movement of the front follower of the usual draft rigging of a railway car and the friction casing A toward each other, the wedge block D is forced inwardly of the casing A, thereby wedging the shoes CC-C apart and sliding the same inwardly along the friction surfaces of the casing against the resistance of the springs E and F. During this action the pressure is transmitted to the rubber cushioning element H, compressing the same through the follower plate G.

We claim:

1. In a combined rubber and friction draft ear, the combination with a friction casing open at its rear end and having stop shoulders at opposite sides of the rear end thereof; of friction shoes slidingly telescoped within the front end of the casing; spring means within the casing yieldingly opposing inward movement of said shoes; a wedge block in wedging engagement with the shoes; a rear follower member having forwardly projecting side arms provided with inturned flanges in shouldered engagement with the stop shoulders of the casing; an auxiliary follower plate bearing on the rear end of the casing and on the rear end of said spring means, said follower plate having a sliding fit within said rear follower member for holding said rear follower member and follower plate against relative rotation; interengaging locking means on said casing and follower plate for locking said casing and plate against relative rotation; and a rubber cushioning element interposed and reacting between said auxiliary follower plate and rear follower member, said rubber cushioning element being under initial compression to hold said locking means interengaged.

2. In a combined rubber and friction draft gear, the combination with a friction casing having stop shoulders at opposite sides of the rear end thereof; of a spring resisted friction clutch slidingly telescoped within the casing; a rear follower member having forwardly projecting side arms provided with inturned flanges in shouldered engagement with the stop shoulders of the casing; an auxiliary follower plate bearing on the rear end of the casing, said follower plate having a sliding fit within said rear follower member for holding said rear follower member and follower plate against. relative rotation; interengaging locking means on said casing and follower plate for locking said casing and plate. against relative rotation; and a rubber cushion-. ing element interposed and reacting between said.

auxiliary follower plate and rear follower member, said cushioning element being under initial compression to press said follower plate outwardly to hold said locking means interengaged.

3. In a combined rubber and friction draft gear, the combination with a friction casing; of a spring resisted friction clutch slidingly telescoped within the casing; laterally projecting stop lugs on said casing at opposite sides of the rear end thereof; a rear follower member having forwardly projecting side arms, provided with inturned flanges at their front ends engaged in front of said stop lugs, said lugs and flanges being engageable by relative rotation of said casing and follower member through an angle of 90 degrees; an auxiliary follower plate bearing on the rear end of the casing, said follower plate havin a sliding fit within said rear follower member for holding said rear follower member and follower plate against relative rotation; means for locking said casing to the follower plate against relative rotation about the longitudinal axis of the mechanism, comprising a seat in said follower plate and a projection on said casing engaged in said seat; and a rubber cushioning element interposed and reacting between said auxiliary follower plate and rear follower member, said rubber element being under initial compression.

4. In a combined rubber and friction draft gear, the combination with a friction casing having a spring resisted friction clutch slidable therein, said casing having laterally projecting stop lugs at opposite sides of the rear end thereof, said lugs having rearwardly extending locking projections thereon; of a rear follower member having a vertical rear wall and forwardly projecting side arms extending from said wall and provided with inturned flanges at their front ends engaged in front of said stop lugs; an auxiliary follower plate bearing on the rear end of the casing, said follower plate having a sliding fit within said rear follower member for holding said rear follower member and follower plate against relative rotation about the longitudinal axis of the mechanism, said rear follower member having depressions at opposite sides thereof in which the locking projections of the lugs of the casing are seated to lock said casing and follower plate against relative rotation with respect to each other; and a rubber cushioning element bearing at its front and rear ends on. said auxiliary follower plate and rear follower member, said rubber element being under initial compression.

5. In a combined rubber and friction draft gear, the combination with a friction casing having a spring resisted friction clutch slidable therein, said casing having laterally projecting stop lugs at opposite sides of the rear end thereof, said lugs having rearwardly extending locking projections thereon; of a rear follower member having a vertical rear Wall and forwardly pro- 5; auxiliary;- fol-lower plate and: rem: walk of H187 facing; therein wlfihiin whicinthmlnnkk projcatibn' of the: step lug: at; the. cormsbbnd? sick:v of; the: catsing; is" seated; and: a cushioning element: between: and bearing. om.

re'az follnwer-membfen;

VERJJGiN S} DAN 0N. RICHARD Horefrences 

